Is Jon Gosselin Having a Third Life Crisis?

Are Parents Entitled to Quarter, Third, or Midlife Crises?

Everyone likes their freedom and moms and dads are no different, but once you make the decision to have a child is it ever appropriate to act like one? Life's milestones — turning 25, 30, or 50, braving marriage, starting a family, or changing careers — affect people differently. Some adapt and excel to their situations while others get the urge to break free.

The big announcement episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 featured the 32-year-old father of eight sporting diamond earrings and a rather upbeat attitude toward the next chapter of his life. The soon-to-be divorced daddy who we used to watch change diapers and corral his kids, has been spotted smoking, hanging out at rural nightclubs with 20-somethings, and looking for a pricey bachelor pad in NYC as of late.

While Jon Gosselin is just one example (and not to say his actions are adversely affecting his children), do you think parents have a right to indulge in extended periods of "me time" while they are raising kids?

I think they're both pretty ridiculous these days. I dont like either of them, at all. Shes controlling and bitchy, and hes lazy and checked out of his relationship/family YEARS ago, but they both are to blame and they both made their beds. You cant just blame one or the other, its both of their fault. He's not even the one who filed for divorce.. she did, so how is he abandoning his family? Get a grip, theyre both acting like irresponsible 20 year olds, not referring to the divorce, just their actions

I am sorry... But WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE IS HAVING A CRISIS JUST BECAUSE HE HAS EARRINGS, DRESSES DIFFERENTLY AND HAS DECIDED TO SEPARATE FROM KATE?
Parents should NOT stay together just for the kids. I give the man credit, and Kate, for recognizing that their relationship is OVER. THEY ARE BOTH DOING WELL FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
Both parents seem to love and spend time caring for their children. Jon is evolving in his taste. But you know what? SO HAS KATE?
HELLO!?!? Plastic surgery... Crappy designer haircut... Book tours...
And, it's sad that I have to point this out to you all... BUT JON IS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN STAYING HOME WITH HIS KIDS WHILE KATE IS OFF TOURING HER BOOK!
So cut the man some slack. Yes, his "free time" taste has changed. But that does not mean he is "trash" or that he isn't being responsible and taking care of his kids.
He watches his kids himself at home. Kate is the one who needs all the nanny help.

I agree with what others have said. Parents are allowed to have a mid-life crisis to some extent. If they can reasonably afford it, I see no problem with a father giving his child his old Camry to drive and buying himself a vintage Mustang. Or with a stay-at-home mother with school-aged children going back to school during the day. (Sorry to chose such gender-normative examples; they are the first ones that came to mind!) I realize those two examples are pretty different, but in both cases, the parents are indulging a little bit and doing what they want to do without hurting their children, which I think is the key.

I agree with what others have said. Parents are allowed to have a mid-life crisis to some extent. If they can reasonably afford it, I see no problem with a father giving his child his old Camry to drive and buying himself a vintage Mustang. Or with a stay-at-home mother with school-aged children going back to school during the day. (Sorry to chose such gender-normative examples; they are the first ones that came to mind!) I realize those two examples are pretty different, but in both cases, the parents are indulging a little bit and doing what they want to do <b>without</b> hurting their children, which I think is the key.

Everyone can have their crisis. It's going to happen, but doing something crazy which is harmful to the family is not acceptable. Just because a person is a parent doesn't mean that they don't have a life, it just means that their me time is fewer and farther between.

Not having a childhood, or the freedom to do whatever the F you wanted as a young adult is no excuse to suddenly abandon your family and have a Mid life crisis. Most of the men and women that do this, feel cheated somehow and then in turn they end up CHEATING thier own children and the cycle goes on and on.
Its selfish and its wrong.

Not having a childhood, or the freedom to do whatever the F you wanted as a young adult is no excuse to suddenly abandon your family and have a Mid life crisis. Most of the men and women that do this, feel cheated somehow and then in turn they end up CHEATING thier own children and the cycle goes on and on. Its selfish and its wrong.

Anyone is entitled to a crisis. Things happen. Parents? Yes, but as a daughter of a parent who completely changed and freaked out at 40, and the STB daughter-in-law of a man who did the same at 40, I can say that's it's rough going if you are young. My dad flipped when I was 11, all of the sudden he was going skydiving, bought a motorcycle, going to bars all the time, hanging around teenagers, doing drugs, the works. I did not see his old age (and not even that old) as an excuse to completely turn your life into this wannabe 20 again bullsh*t saga. I was appalled at my fathers behavior. Absolutely appalled in how he treated his family and how he went from being an okay person to a guy I was embarrassed to know, a guy that started to abuse us, and a guy that apparently dated really young girls if at 15 I was mistaken for his girlfriend! Indulge in all the me time you want as long as it isn't trashy, damaging or desperate. Be an example for your children. Don't teach them to make mistakes like get someone pregnant, marry them and then decide you don't want that too much so then you go off, pierce your ears, get a motorcycle, and then god knows what.

Anyone is entitled to a crisis. Things happen. Parents? Yes, but as a daughter of a parent who completely changed and freaked out at 40, and the STB daughter-in-law of a man who did the same at 40, I can say that's it's rough going if you are young. My dad flipped when I was 11, all of the sudden he was going skydiving, bought a motorcycle, going to bars all the time, hanging around teenagers, doing drugs, the works. I did not see his old age (and not even that old) as an excuse to completely turn your life into this wannabe 20 again bullsh*t saga. I was appalled at my fathers behavior. Absolutely appalled in how he treated his family and how he went from being an okay person to a guy I was embarrassed to know, a guy that started to abuse us, and a guy that apparently dated really young girls if at 15 I was mistaken for his girlfriend!
Indulge in all the me time you want as long as it isn't trashy, damaging or desperate. Be an example for your children. Don't teach them to make mistakes like get someone pregnant, marry them and then decide you don't want that too much so then you go off, pierce your ears, get a motorcycle, and then god knows what.

6 years

Many marriages end in dovorce for many reasons! Have you looked at the stats lately? Parents of multiples are at a higher risk for this. Life is hard, and whomever thought it's easy is wrong. Every day has it's own challenges and honestly sometimes those challenges become too much for some. Some are blessed with resources to help with these challenges, others are not and no matter which situation you're in, it's really not your business or anyone elses business to decide how someone should handle their challenges. You live your life as you see fit and everyone else can too. I think everyone goes through a "mid life crisis" at some point and some go through more than others. I think it has more to do with life moving at such a fast pace these days and many of us just wanting to take some time to get a little of the fun back. I do not condone cheating, or any addictions as a way to achieve this, but there are certianly plenty of people who buy a new fancy car, new homes and go on very nice vacations to achieve this.

6 years

Jon Gosselin is trash. Just because he decided to have 8 children before he was 30 and didn't get to "sow his oats" in his early 20's doesn't mean he should act like that with 8 kids now. I hope his kids think he is trash too. This is why people shouldn't rush to get married right out of college and rush to have kids. Most of those marraiges end in divorce b/c they were young and immature.